I just heard yesterday that the PH I was going to use in August had the HUGE misfortune of getting gored! I guess that a client had made a poor shot on a cape and they were following it up in thick brush and it came at them from behind after is circled back on the track.

I HEAR that the skin on his forehead was ground off to the skull as the damned beast skidded him across the ground after slamming him in the back. He took a horn to the thigh that caused a wound that "you could put your fist through". It also threw him after and tore his hamstring loose and, (OH MY GAWD) one horn up the poop shute.

I hope that they have good surgeons there and can save the leg.

This is why I have NO problem with a PH that colaborates on the shot on DG. I'd hate to think that my ego is worth that happening to anybody!

If a hunter makes a bad shot on a Cape Buffalo, and as a result a PH or tracker gets seriously hurt or killed, is the hunter liable because of his negligence?

["If a hunter makes a bad shot on a Cape Buffalo, and as a result a PH or tracker gets seriously hurt or killed, is the hunter liable because of his negligence? "]

Oh, come on. Just say 'no'. Sheesh!

Poor guy!

....Talk about being on the 'horns of dilemma'!..... Hope the unfortunate fellow comes out of it all in tact, and uncompromised in the future.

Who is the PH?

damned beast... I don't know how to take that, but all it was doing was trying to protect itself.

I feel for the hunter and mostly the PH though. Thoughts and prayres on that one and best of luck on your trip!

Jeff

To the mighty belong all things.

I don't pray, but if you talk to the PH let him know we're pulling for him.

Who is the PH?

saw a story about this in our local newspaper. who is the ph?

Thas sad,I wish them the best!!!

Fellows, I'm wating for more information as I got this second or third hand. AS SOON as I can confirm the details I will post it. Until then I am not going to post his name.

And this is why it's called Dangerous Game. Dang... I hope he pulls through okay.

I think I just upgraded my "dream rifle" for my "dream hunt" to Africa!

Make sure you can shoot a crow with that "dream rifle".... Shoot deer, shoot paper, and shoot small rocks with it... Just shoot the thing...

That's what I'm doing. Shooting prairie dogs, elk, deer, black bear, antelope, cans and DWJs (Dangerous Water Jugs), making my 500 Jeffery my only hunting rifle. So when I go to Alaska and then Africa I'm good with it.

Best of luck on that dream hunt,

Chuck

That's what I'm doing. Shooting prairie dogs, elk, deer, black bear, antelope, cans and DWJs (Dangerous Water Jugs), making my 500 Jeffery my only hunting rifle. So when I go to Alaska and then Africa I'm good with it.

Best of luck on that dream hunt,

Chuck

May God Have Mercy on your PH.



WOW! (shudder)

BMT

Well loosing a leg will be the least of his problem, infection is going to be the thing that kills him, that is if they don't get a handle on it. They don't call it Dangerous Game for nothing.

From Jerome of AH:

I have finally been in contact with my friend Charl Watts in South Africa of Steyn Caracal Safaris, who confirmed the rumor that his brother, Gideon Watts had been severely injured in an incident that occurred while hunting Cape Buffalo in South Africa.

Gideon, although a PH himself, was on the hunt not as the guiding PH, the client wounded the Buffalo and they were tracking it. The Buffalo first attacked the PH guiding the hunt (his name has not been given to me) while in a dense area, he was gored suffering wounds in both buttocks and has several broken ribs. While the Buffalo was on top of the PH, Gideon shot the Buffalo in the head, however he missed the brain. The Buffalo then turned on Gideon and attacked him, goring him several times (fist sized holes) in the front thighs, hamstring and just missing the arteries. The PH finally shot and killed the raging Buffalo while he was still attacking Gideon.

Both PHs are being treated for infection with strong antibiotics, but will be fine and are recuperating which will take several months... Surprisingly both of them are now out of the hospital already, as this incident took place only a week and a half ago, just a testament to how tough these guys are. There had been some concerns about Gideons' leg, though doctors now seem to feel that it will heal completely which is incredibly good news as I am sure he will be back in the bush hunting as soon as he is able.

I will say from personal observation that African PHs, especially those born and raised in Africa are shockingly resilient and almost superhuman in the way that can respond to and recover from bodily harm, whether from outside forces or self inflicted...

Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
__________________

This is just like Gideon...putting himself in harms way to save another! I chose him because he has pulled NOT one, but TWO leopards that were making people into mince meat off...... and killed the leopards with his knife!

Thank you for the updates. Our thoughts and prayers go to the PH, as well as Gideon and his family.

yes this is the same story that featured in the news papers. if i am not mistaken the Watts family are from Kimberley and are ex - professional rugby players. they breed them tough over in the N-Cape

Best wishes to the Watts family....

Hunted a place they owned near Vaalwater,never met Gideon.But hunted with brother Gerhard.Good people....

Dinsdale

Holy Chit! That is one bad azz PH! But that kind of thng will catch up with you sonner or later.

I hope he gets back upon his feet soon.

Yes, Gideon was a professional rugby player and had thighs like tree trunks.

Really bad to hear about the PH's getting beat up. Thankfully it seems like they'll heal.

Still that's what makes buffalo hunting so special. Even well-placed shots with heavy rifles and good bullets, won't always drop an adrenlyned-charged buffalo in time to save lives.

People who hunt buffalo (clients, PHs, and trackers/observers)have to accept the fact that they could get maimed or killed. It comes with the territory.

Dangerous game hunting in not a carnival-type "thrill" ride, where there is a controlled, engineered, approach to an illusion of risk. The risks in DG hunting are present and very real.

If you can't suffer the consequences, don't go dangerous game hunting. PHs and trackesr know that, clients may understand that in a intellectual way, but maybe not in the sense that it is a real part of the game.

To hunt cape buffalo from that perspective, means that you are willing to risk permanent injury or death (to yourself or others)in order to try and kill those magnificient, courageous beasts.

If the buffalo dies and you and your people live, you win.

If you or your people die and the buffalo lives, he wins.

If you both die, then you broke even.

That's the real essence of that kind of hunting. If you are not prepared for the buffalo to win or break even, then don't get in the game.

Regards.

My PH on my first African trip told of being mauled by a buf. He got a horn through each calf muscle while trying to stay out from under the front hooves. He said he was in remote camp with a cardiologist and Iodine only as an antiseptic. They flushed the wounds daily with iodine and he pulled through.
Over the years he's been pretty hard to kill. He was shot by some Chadian poachers a few years ago. Now lives in Moz.

Good post, I learned pretty quickly that inches of horn etc. mean nothing. You hunt buffalo, simply put..to have had the experience of hunting buffalo....
Ruark said once you have hunted buffalo, you are dissatisfied with anything else. I would concur....
Ingwe

I wounder how many PH's get nailed by DG per year?

Too many
Randy